Automatic Discounts being applied at purchase

[kensforce]

This is the third time Etsy has added a coupon to a custom order, lowering the price. Custom order do not qualify for a discount in our shop, yet Etsy keeps adding a discount. No matter what our customer do, they cannot take it off. This is costing us a lot of money. How can this be ended? I have screenshots to back up my claims.

[Beadcomber]

It's probably not Etsy doing so, but there are Websites and Browser add-ons that specifically search for Coupons. If you have any active Coupons in your shop, you may want to disable them. 

Etsy funded coupons don't come out of your revenue. Re: Investing in Sellers with Etsy-funded Coupons - Page 3 - Welcome to the Etsy Community

[TBQSC]

Etsy was sending out 20% off coupons recently … check the forums, there’s lots of posts about it.  

[dayspringcollectible]

Yes, but the OP wouldn't be losing money if those were used.  The customer gets a discount but Etsy pays the seller the full price.

[TastefulArtisan]

@Beadcomber Yep! I have a browser extension from my Cap1 card to look for any available coupon codes. Just this afternoon I bought something from another shop and it found a code. I didn't use it since it seems a bit underhanded and I know how irritating it is to see a discount code attached to a new customer that I did not give the code to. I give out codes personally and they are very unique so the first time it happened, I let it slide but it's been happening a lot more frequently lately. The Etsy funded ones are pretty cool though. I get a lot of those when they do that promotion.

@AtomicRobotComics The only way to prevent that from happening is to disable all your codes. Which is problematic of course. Or maybe change their structure. Give it something like save 15% on purchases over 750.00 or like free shipping on orders over 35.00, especially if you already ship free over 35.00... Buyer gets a feel good because they managed to get a coupon code and you don't lose money.

I've seen shops where they actually have a photo telling the viewer to NOT purchase if they clicked though from Google but to go to Etsy search and find them again. I imagine that photos of don't use a coupon code you got from a backdoor hack will start appearing. Weird. 

[kensforce]

This was the 2nd custom order for this customer where this happened. When he sent a screenshot it said "Add a coupon code" and "you did it" so I said to try it without that and he said he couldn't. We actually lost money on that sale.

[Beadcomber]

@TastefulArtisan yes, it's happened to me also that a new Buyer used a Coupon Code that I hadn't given them that was meant for my repeat buyers. I let it slide also, but it does seem underhanded. My MS Edge browser came with Microsoft add-on that looks for coupons and discounts on various sites. The discount search is pretty cool since discounts generally apply to anyone. 

It's also recommended not to use simple Coupon Codes like Thankyou10 or Save20 as some may try those codes without a coupon search

@kensforce  It does seem odd your customer couldn't opt out of a coupon. One cannot opt out of something that is marked at a Sale Price, but one can opt out of not using coupons. 

Etsy has been sending the 20% off promotion and a $5 off promotion. I think that was last month. I couldn't use it in Canada as it's only available for use in the USA (not really fair since we purchase from the USA, but I digress).

There are a number of ways we can do Coupons, one of which is to send a coupon with every purchase, Favorited items, Abandoned Cart and Promo Codes.

Check your sidebar under Marketing > Sales and Discounts if you have any active Coupons, Targeted offers or Promo Codes. If you don't have any then your Customer couldn't have used any unless it was an Etsy Promo Code. But as I mentioned before, Etsy Promo Codes aren't coming out of your money.

[TheArtfulTwig]

@TastefulArtisan 

I know this is an older thread, but thank you for confirming my experience. I had a new customer use a personal discount code and didn't understand how they had the code until I realized they were getting it from Capital One, too (I have the same browser extension).

It totally shocked me, because I even use personal names in my codes for use only for repeat buyers.  

I ended up deleting all of the codes, which is a shame, because I had offered them as indefinite to the buyers.  My margins are slim.

Your idea of giving a promo like 15% off of over $750 is a good one, great idea!  I already offer free shipping on everything so offering discounts on lower price items just doesn't cover my costs.  Thank you!

[kensforce]

Yes, my customer sent me a screenshot of that, but he said there was no way to opt out. When we do a custom order we cannot apply a discount, on the sale I am speaking of now we actually lost money because of that. The profits for comics can be lean when you search for specific items for customers.

[TastefulArtisan]

@AtomicRobotComics

I'm so sorry that happened. If the code was one you have, then you can disable it. I don't think it matters if it's custom or not. If they have a coupon code, they can use it since it makes no difference at checkout if it's a custom listing or a regular listing from your shop. 

I don't know why he couldn't opt out, my browser extension gives me the codes but I can choose if I want to use it or not. It's the only one I have so I can't speak for other extensions. 

[CappuccinoLace]

"Add a coupon code" and "you did it"

You did it at the top? That's an automatic sale, not a coupon.

It doesn't show "you did it" when a coupon is applied.

You did it, is the bar at the top that says "add X to get X off", whether that's X more qty, or $x.xx amount.